Alumni Composition Premiered by Omega Strings at LSM 2025
Jonathan Bartz with LSM 2025 Omega String Quintet
The Omega String Faculty Ensemble had the honor of premiering Brine, a new work by alumni composer Jonathan Bartz (LSM 2002–2003), as part of the Faculty Chamber Music Series. The piece was commissioned through LSM’s second annual Alumni Composer Commission—an initiative that strengthens the lifelong bond between alumni and LSM while celebrating and supporting their creative work. The program also enriches chamber music repertoire by publishing music that is freely available and accessible to players of varying skill levels.
Jonathan Bartz, an award-winning composer based in Los Angeles, has built an impressive career in film and concert music. He has worked on major motion pictures, including blockbuster films such as the recent Star Wars Trilogy and Marvel’s Avengers series. He has worked with directors and artists from Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams to Cheyenne Jackson and Mariah Carey. Bartz’s passion for innovative composition that blends classical and contemporary elements has culminated in an exciting, folk-music-like piece that appeals to performers and audiences alike.
Brine, composed for two violins, viola, cello, and bass, is inspired by the sea, aiming to evoke a nautical folk feel. “Swashbuckling, pirates playing on a boat… I wanted to tell the story of something that is very much ‘me’”, shares Bartz. “I really enjoyed the flexibility of writing for a concert stage; it’s very freeing to escape the tight confines of film scoring.”
Bartz also highlighted the influence of attending LSM as a young musician. “The immersive experience of LSM presented me with a musical world that I hadn’t experienced before. It solidified my feeling that I wanted to do music professionally.” The alumni composition helps round out that musical world, exposing students to newly composed music. “It’s important to experience music that is new to you. Making a career in music requires you to be comfortable in a wide variety of styles and genres,” adds Bartz.
Brine is available free to download from The LSM Press, where you can also find last year’s commission and other musical resources free to download. The LSM Press advances LSM’s mission by serving as a laboratory for the creativity and innovation that shape the future of sacred and classical music.
The LSM 2025 community was fortunate to welcome Bartz back for the premiere of his new work. He quickly reconnected with the rhythm of campus life, attending morning prayer and offering composition lessons to students. Bartz stressed the strength of the LSM community and culture across multiple years and places. “It’s incredible that I attended LSM twice, in two different locations, and yet being on campus here feels exactly like the LSM I know.”
Previous Alumni Composer Compositions
2024: Gray Overtures by Lawton Hall